The controversy in the match between Glimt and Sporting revolved around a crucial penalty decision that occurred after 77 minutes of play. Jostein Gundersen voiced his opinion that the referee might have overlooked important details regarding the incident, where the ball appeared to hit him in the stomach before making contact with his arm. His teammate, Fredrik André Bjørkan, also expressed his astonishment at the penalty call, feeling at the moment that it should not have been awarded, as he believed the ball hit his body first before touching his hand.

The incident drew significant attention from the crowd in the Estadio José Alvalade, who were vocally demanding a penalty kick. Following a review by the referee, Sandro Schärer, who relied on VAR, he quickly reversed his initial decision and awarded the penalty, which resulted in Sporting scoring their third goal of the game. This goal proved pivotal, as it led Glimt to extra time, where they ultimately faced defeat.

In a follow-up, Bjørkan reflected on the incident after watching a replay, which seemed to shift his perspective on the decision. He acknowledged that seeing the footage made him understand why the penalty was awarded, even if he initially felt that the ball did not hit him in a way that warranted such a call. This debate over the penalty underscores the ongoing discussions around referee decisions and the role of VAR in modern football, particularly regarding their impacts on match outcomes.